• DALLAS, VIRGINIA BEACH

Complying with federal law, the price for school breakfast and lunch at all Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools outside the continental United States (OCONUS) managed by the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) and the Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM) will increase 25 cents for the 2026–2027 school year, the first change in pricing in four years. 

The lunch price for elementary and secondary students’ meals will be $3.75 and $4.00, respectively. Breakfast prices for all grades will be $2.25.  

There will be no price increase for students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals. Per federal guidelines, families qualifying for reduced-price meals will continue to pay 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. 

RAISING PRICES 

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (Public Law 111-296) requires DoDEA schools, as participants in the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) meal program, to raise paid student
lunch prices to a level comparable to the rates used for USDA reimbursement. 

Each year, the USDA requires DoDEA schools to compare costs for a paid student lunch to the difference between two federal reimbursement rates: the free meal rate and the paid meal rate.  

If the current price is too low compared to that difference, the USDA requires school meal prices to be adjusted to achieve parity. 

The 25-cent increase for paid lunches at DoDEA school overseas keeps the program fully compliant with federal guidelines. 

The DoDEA Student Meal Program meets the same USDA guidelines as schools in the continental United States (CONUS) by providing quality nutritional meals that contain whole grains,
lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and milk to students. For more information on the Student Meal Program, visit myNavyExchange.com/smp. 

Source: AAFES, NEXCOM 

Edited by Larry Lapka